Signal for automobiles and other vehicles.



E. 0. SHULEEdz S. COHEN. SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT.11, 1913.

1,128,066., Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

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SIGNAL FoRnUToMoBILEs AND OTHER; VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Application filed October 11, 191-3. Serial No. 794,630.

To all whom it may/"concern:

. Be it known that we, EDWARD C. SHULEIJ and SAMUEL COHEN, citizens of the United residing at Dover, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals forAutomobiles and other Vehicles, of which the following-is a specification.

Our invention relates to signals, especially to those adapted for use on automobiles, and has .for its object the provision of a novel form of foot operated signal, visible by day or night, preaching or following vehicles of an in tended change in the speed or direction of a moving vehicle.

An important object is to provide a device of this character which may be attached to any vehicle without disturbing or altering any part of the vehicle.

Other objects and advantages such as simplicity, cheapne'ss, efficiency, durability and the general improvement of the art will be brought out in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an automobile having our improved device attached thereto, and Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,vthe numeral 1 designatesa portion of an auton'iobile, as a whole, which is provided with afloor 2, a dash 3, hood 4, running boards 5, the stationary side walls 6 and the doors 7.

Our improved signal device is secured preferably at the stationary side walls 6, 'and comprises a vertically disposed bracket 8 secured upon one of the walls 6, preferably at the left and provided at its with ears 9. ()ur signal arm 10 is pivoted, as at 11, between the ears 9 and is connected at its inner end 12, end of a vertically movable lever 14 slidable upon the inner side of the wall 6 and guided by a bracket 15 secured thereto. At its lower end the lever 14 is provided with a horizon tally extendingportion 16 adapted to be engaged by the foot of the drive of the automobile. From the foregoing it will be ob vious that downward pressure upon thepor-.

tion i6 will pull the lever 1% downwardly, thus elevating the outer end of the signal arm arid indicating to other vehicles that the ,driverintends to which is capable of warning ap--.

upper end as at 13, with the upper make a change in speed or direction. This device obviates the necessity of the driver taking his hand off the steering wheel and extending it laterally from the automobile as a signal, as is a common practice.

At its outer end the signal arm 10 is provided with a socket 17 into which is screwed an electric light bulb 18 which receives current from a small dynamo, storage or dry batteries.- The addition of thelamp renders the device visible at night.

During-the operation of an automobile, it might be found inadvisable for a driver to keep his foot upon the portion 16 for any appreciable lengthof time, as thereare usually various pedals to be operated, especi'ally when changing the direction of travel. lVe therefore provide a pawl 19 pivoted as at 20 upon lugs 21 secured upon the floor 2 or inclined platform 22. One edge of the pawl 19 is straight, as shown, and provided with a notch or recess 23. A spring 24 is-so disposed as to normally hold the straight edge of-the pawl against the end of-theportion 16. WVhen, the portion 16 is depressed,

the spring 2 1 will cause the notch 23 to en gage the end of the portion 16, thus maintaining the signal arm 10 in its elevated position. When it is desired to lower the signal, a simple lateral pressure of the operators foot to be released from engagement with the portion 16, thus allowing the arm 10 to drop by gravity.

In order to avoid a waste of current by allowing the amp 18 to remain lighted during a straight course by the automobile, we find it expedient to employ an automatic switch device. A wire 25 is connected with against the pawl 19 will cause it one terminal of the lamp 18 and with a source of current 26 from which a second wire 27 conducts current to the pawl 19. Another wire 28 is connected with the other terminal of the lamp and with the bracket A strip of insulation 29 is secured at the upper portion of the pawl, as shown, and contacts with the end of the portion 16 when the signal is idle, thus preventing the lamp from being lighted. Downward pressure upon the portion 16, however, will cause the portion 16 to pass over the insulation 29 and contact with the metallic portion ,of the pawl, thus causing the circuit to be complete and allowlng current to energize the lamp.

When the signal is no longer needed to be displayed, releasing the pressure upon the portion 16 will cause the circuit to be broken when the 'end contacts with the insulating strip. A switch 30 may preferably be placed in the circuit for cutting oil current entirely in the day time.

The arm 10 and the entire length of the vertical lever 14: may be of conducting material, but the bracket 15 and the portion 16 and the lower part ofthe lever 14 contacting with the bracket 15 and connected with the portion 16, and the pawl 19, must be of conducting material.

Having thus described our invention What we claim is:

1. An automobile signal comprising an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon the side of an automobile, and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, an electric lamp mounted on the outer end of said arm, a foot lever pivotally connected with the other end of said arm, and a catch member bearing against said foot lever, said catch member pawl being material at its point of contact with said 7 foot lever in its highest position.

In testimony whereof we hereto afiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD C. SHULER. SAMUEL COHEN. Witnesses:

EUGENE J. Coornn, ROBERT A. WELcn. 

